Automatically controlled sewing and cutting apparatus

ABSTRACT

This disclosure describes an automatically controlled sewing, cutting and handling apparatus, which automatically produces individual and completed workpieces, such as belts, shoulder straps, etc., from a continuous medium or fabric web and includes means for longitudinal hemming, transverse cutting and removing of a fabric.

United States Patent R. Earl Fowler Blngllamton, N .Y. 784,621

Dec. 18, 1968 Aug. 17, 197 1 Fred A. Smith & Co.,1nc. Binghamton, N .Y.

Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED SEWING AND CUTTING APPARATUS 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 1 12/130, 1 12/ 1 2 1 .29

Int. Cl D051) 37/04 Field ofSearch ..l12/l21.12,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,151,136 3/1939 Moffitt 112/l21.29X 3,066,563 12/1962 George et a1. 112/12 1 .29 3,209,629 10/1965 Spivey -112/12l.29 X 3,223,059 12/1965 Jacobs 112/121. 12

Primary Examiner.lordan Franklin Assistant ExaminerGeo. V. Larkin Attorney-John W. Young ABSTRACT: This disclosure describes an automatically controlled sewing, cutting and handling apparatus, which automatically produces individual and completed workpieces, such as belts, shoulder straps, etc., from a continuous medium or fabric web and includes means for longitudinal hemming, transverse cutting and removing of a fabric.

PATENIED AUG] 7 Ian SHEET 1 0F 2 FIG.

FIG. 4

R5981. FOWLER INVENTOR PATENT EU AUG] 7197:

SHEET 2 OF 2 REARL FOWLER INVENTOR BY// Aft! AUTOMATICALLY CONTRQLLEI) SEWING AND CUTTING APPARATUS This invention relates to an automatically controlled and operated sewing, cutting and handling apparatus, and more particularly to an automatic sewing and cutting device that will operate on a continuous workpiece or medium, or fabric web, to automatically produce individual finished workpieces handling as hereinafter used shall means the processing of a fabric web from the folding stage to the stacking stage.

Devices that automatically sew and operate on individual workpieces are well known in the art; particularly devices for serging and trimming the edges of work sections, such as trousers and trouser legs. Such devices by their definition require at least a two-step operation inasmuch as they operate on only individual workpieces and not on a continuous medi- It is an object-of the present invention to provide a sewing and cutting apparatus which is completely automatic and which will not require any prior or subsequent operations on the material to produce a completed workpiece.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an automatic sewing, cutting and handling apparatus which will fabricate complete and finished individual work pieces from a fabric web, such as shoulder straps, belts and the like which must be formed, sewed and cut to a predetermined length.

The preferred embodiment of the invention comprises principally an input section, a sewing and cutting section, and a discharge section. The input section is devised and arranged to handle a continuous work medium or fabric web such as a bolt of cloth or corduroy, and to fold and feed the workpiece or medium, without interruption, to the sewing and cutting section. Included within the input section is a converging former or placer, which, because of its geometric configuration, performs the folding operation on the workpiece; which operation is essential in the fabrication of shoulder straps, cloth belts and the like; thereafter the folded workpiece is forwarded and directed to the sewing, cutting section, and more particularly to the stitch-forming area of the sewing machine.

After the workpiece has been stitched by the sewing machine, it is fed through a material guide to the cutting portion .of the apparatus. ln the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the sewing machine and cutting device are positioned on a platform and the material guide feeds the continuous sewn material to a discharge chute, that is inclined downwardly from the platform.

An electric eye or photocell and a light source are adjustably positioned along the discharge chute or tube and are electrically connected and positioned to actuate the cutting device when the continuous work medium is interposed between the photocell and the light source.

An air source or blower is also associated with the discharge tube to facilitate the exiting of the severed workpiece into a discharge tray, after the piece has been severed by the cutting device.

All of the foregoing operations of the device are automatically controlled by the advance of the continuous workpiece through the apparatus. Thus, the work material is initially fed to the converging former, where it is folded, and thereafter directed to the stitching area of the sewing machine, where the sewing operation is performed. The sewn material is then directed by a material guide to the discharge tube or chute.

The cutting device is positioned at the entrance end of the discharge chute and is arranged so that the cutting knife will sever the workpiece at that position. The workpiece is advanced downwardly in said chute by the sewing operation. A light source and an electric photocell unit are adjustably linearly positioned, superjacently and subjacently, along said chute and electrically arranged so that the photocell will actuate the cutting device when the workpiece is interposed between the light source and the photocell. Thus, when the workpiece is advanced into the discharge chute to the position of the light source and photocell an electric signal is directed to the cutting device, severing the workpiece at a predetermined length.

A blower unit is positioned to maintain a constant stream of high velocity, low-pressure air along the longitudinal axis of said chute; the stream of air assuring that the severed individual workpiece is immediately ejected from the chute after the cutting operation if perfonned and to recycle the apparatus and deenergize the cutting device.

With the foregoing, other andfurther objects and features of the present invention are shown and described in the preferred embodiment and will become apparent as the specification proceeds, and the invention will be understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational partly diagrammatical view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an isometrical view of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged isometric view of the converging former device used in the input section of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is an electrical schematic view depicting the electri cal system for the cutting operation.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 3, wherein the preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in blocked diagrammatical form, the automatic sewing and cutting apparatus is comprised of three basic units: the input section 1, sewing and cutting section 2, and the discharge section 3.

The continuous work medium from which the individual workpieces are fabricated is contained on a roll or bolt of continuous material 4, freely mounted on a rod or spindle 5. Material 4 is then directed to a converging former 6, which is more clearly illustrated and shown in FIG. 3.

Continuous material 4 is directed in direction 7 through converging former 6, where material 4 is automatically folded to the predetermined size and shape of the belt, shoulder strap, etc. Converging former 6 is a well-known device in the art, and the use thereof is described and shown in the patent to E. Jacobs, US. Pat. No. 3,223,059, issued Dec. 14, 1965.

Folded material 40 is then advanced and directed, in direction 70 to the stitch-forming area of the sewing machine 10; the advancing motion is provided by the conventional advancing mechanism of the typical sewing machine, which mechanism is shown and described in detail in the patent to H. Jacobs, referred to hereinbefore. The folded material 4a is then stitched by the sewing machine needles 8 and 9 of sewing machine 10, forming the strap, belt, etc.

Folded and sewn material 4b is then directed and advanced through a material guide 11 to the cutting section of the apparatus where it will be cut to a predetermined and predesired length by a cutting unit 12.

Cutting unit 12 is a well-known device in the art, and it is a heavy-duty electromechanical scissors-type cutter designed to sever and separate garments or materials; such a unit is commercially manufactured by Clinton Industries, Inc., of I-Iackensack, N.J., model 0CC205NS; a similar cutting device is also shown in the patent to H. Jacobs, referred to hereinbefore.

Referring now to FIG. 2, cutting unit 12 includes a cutting knife 13 that is solenoid-actuated, the solenoid being automatically electrically controlled. Referring now to FIG. 4, the armature 14 of the solenoid 13' is mechanically attached to cutting knife 13 by mechanical linkage 15. The coil 16 of the solenoid is connected in parallel with a photocell 17 that is physically adjustably positioned, as shown in FIG. 2, subjacent to the discharge chute 19 on a rail or rod 24. Photocell 17 is physically positioned in opposition to alight source 18 which is adjustably positioned, superjacent to discharge chute 19 which is constructed so as to have an aperture 18', or slot, extending substantially along the entire longitudinal axis of chute l9 and extending completely through chute 19 to permit the light emanating from light source 18 to project through chute 19 at any point on the longitudinal axis.

Light source 18 is physically adjustably attached to a power source by an adjustable arm 23 to permit light source 18 to be positioned at any desired position along the longitudinal axis of chute 19, and maintained in optical relation with photocell 17.

Referring now to FIG. 4, at any time light from source 18 is allowed to impinge and beam upon photocell 17. Photocell 17 assumes a condition of very low impedance, effectively disconnecting coil 16 of solenoid 13 from power source 20, deenergizing solenoid 13'. When light source 18 is effectively removed from photocell l7, i.e., by the interposition of the material 4b between light source 18 and photocell l7, photocell 17 reverts to a state of high impedance, energizing coil 16 and solenoid 13'. thereby activating cutting knife 13, which is mechanically connected by linkage 15 to armature 14 of solenoid 13'.

Thus, as material 4b is advanced through material guide 1 1 and into chute 19 it is eventually interposed between source 18 and photocell 17, causing photocell 17 to revert to a high impedance state. Solenoid 13 is actuated, and cutting knife 13 severs and cuts material 4b at the predetermined length.

A blower is also physically associated with chute 19 and directs a stream of high velocity, low-pressure air along the longitudinal axis of chute 19 to immediately eject the severed completed workpiece into a discharge tray 31. Upon the ejection of the completed workpiece, light source 18 reimpinges upon photocell 17 and photocell 17 reverts to a state of low impedance, deenergizing solenoid 13'. Blower 30 is a conventional blower such as shown in the patent to Mofiit, U.S. Pat. No. 2,151,136, issued in Mar. 1939, and the high velocity, low pressure air is directed along the longitudinal axis of chute 19 by an air tube 30' to aid and ensure the ejection of the severed fabric web 4b from chute 19.

The cutting procedure is repeated upon the reinterpositioning of material4b between light source 18 and photocell l7, creating a completely automatic apparatus for the production and manufacture of individual workpieces, such as belts, shoulder straps and the like from a continuous work medium.

The advantages of a completely automatic device are obvious. A completed workpiece is automatically produced automatically produced the requirement of a human operator and is extremely more efficient and economical.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore tobeunderstoo'd that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than in the manner specifically described, without deviating from the inventive concept herein.

1 claim:

1. An automatically controlled sewing, cutting and handling apparatus for longitudinally hemming, transverse cutting and removing the severed portion to produce individual completed workpieces from a fabric web comprising,

a. an input section, including the fabric web from which the individual workpieces are to be produced and a longitudinal folding means;

a sewing apparatus disposed along the path of movement of said fabric web including means for advancing said fabric web and means for stitching said fabric web;

. a cutting apparatus disposed along the path of movement of said workpiece for severing the said fabric web;

. a discharge unit disposed at the terminal end of the path of movement of said fabric web including a discharge chute, the longitudinal axis of which is disposed angularly downwardly to and along the path of travel of said fabric web;

. mounting means attached to said discharge chute, and

. a light source and photocell adjustably longitudinally disposed on said mounting means along said longitudinal axis of said discharge chute, whereby, at the time when said fabric web is advanced along the longitudinal axis of said chute to a position whereby it is interposed between said light source and said photocell said cuttin apparatus is activated to sever the fabric web to pro uce an individual completed workpiece.

2. A device according to claim 1,

wherein a high velocity low-pressure ejector means is operatively associated with said chute is provided to immediately eject said severed workpiece from said chute.

3. A device according to claim 2 wherein a centrally disposed slot is provided along the longitudinal axis of said discharge chute for substantially the entire length thereof.

4. A device according to claim 3 wherein said photocell is adjustably positioned along the longitudinal axis of said slot subjacent to said chute and said light source is adjustably positioned along the longitudinal axis of said slot superjacent to said chute. 

1. An automatically controlled sewing, cuTting and handling apparatus for longitudinally hemming, transverse cutting and removing the severed portion to produce individual completed workpieces from a fabric web comprising, a. an input section, including the fabric web from which the individual workpieces are to be produced and a longitudinal folding means; b. a sewing apparatus disposed along the path of movement of said fabric web including means for advancing said fabric web and means for stitching said fabric web; c. a cutting apparatus disposed along the path of movement of said workpiece for severing the said fabric web; d. a discharge unit disposed at the terminal end of the path of movement of said fabric web including a discharge chute, the longitudinal axis of which is disposed angularly downwardly to and along the path of travel of said fabric web; e. mounting means attached to said discharge chute, and f. a light source and photocell adjustably longitudinally disposed on said mounting means along said longitudinal axis of said discharge chute, whereby, at the time when said fabric web is advanced along the longitudinal axis of said chute to a position whereby it is interposed between said light source and said photocell said cutting apparatus is activated to sever the fabric web to produce an individual completed workpiece.
 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein a high velocity low-pressure ejector means is operatively associated with said chute is provided to immediately eject said severed workpiece from said chute.
 3. A device according to claim 2 wherein a centrally disposed slot is provided along the longitudinal axis of said discharge chute for substantially the entire length thereof.
 4. A device according to claim 3 wherein said photocell is adjustably positioned along the longitudinal axis of said slot subjacent to said chute and said light source is adjustably positioned along the longitudinal axis of said slot superjacent to said chute. 